Stimulation needle apparatus and method

Abstract

In various examples, a stimulation needle apparatus is used for selectively administering a trial stimulation to body tissue of a patient. The stimulation needle apparatus includes a cannula assembly including a cannula and a cannula hub disposed at a proximal cannula end. A stylet assembly includes a stylet sized and shaped to fit within a cannula lumen. A stylet hub is disposed at the proximal stylet end and is configured to engage with the cannula hub. With the stylet hub engaged with the cannula hub, the distal stylet end extends distally from the distal cannula end. A stylet connection is electrically coupled with the stylet and is configured to electrically couple with a stimulator device, such that, a stimulation pulse delivered by the stimulator device is conducted from the stylet connection through the stylet to the distal stylet end to administer the trial stimulation.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A stimulation needle apparatus, comprising:
 a stylet assembly that includes:
 a stylet that extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the stylet has a proximal stylet end and a distal stylet end; 
 a stylet hub located at the proximal stylet end; and 
 a conductive loop that is integrally formed from a same piece of material as the stylet, wherein the conductive loop is electrically coupled to the stylet, thereby defining a two-dimensional enclosure, wherein the conductive loop is configured to engage with a stimulator device, such that an electrical pulse generated by the stimulator device can propagate to the stylet through the conductive loop, and wherein an entirety of the conductive loop extends proximally beyond a planar surface of the stylet hub. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive loop is configured to be hooked onto an alligator clip, a pin and socket connector, or a threaded connector of the stimulator device. 
     
     
       3. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cannula assembly that is engageable with the stylet assembly. 
     
     
       4. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cannula assembly and the stylet assembly are engaged via an engagement mechanism selected from the group consisting of: a threaded engagement, a tab-in-slot connection, a bayonet connection, and a compression coupling. 
     
     
       5. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the stylet assembly is configured to:
 engage with the cannula assembly via a first rotational motion; and 
 disengage with the cannula assembly via a second rotational motion opposite the first rotational motion. 
 
     
     
       6. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first rotational motion and the second rotational motion are relative to the longitudinal axis and are applied at least in part via the stylet hub. 
     
     
       7. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein an engagement between the stylet assembly and the cannula assembly is non-rotational. 
     
     
       8. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the stylet assembly and the cannula assembly are engaged using a press fit configuration or a snap-together configuration. 
     
     
       9. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cannula assembly includes:
 a cannula that defines a cannula lumen extending along the longitudinal axis from a proximal cannula end to a distal cannula end; and 
 a cannula hub disposed at the proximal cannula end, wherein the cannula lumen is accessible through the cannula hub. 
 
     
     
       10. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the stylet is sized and shaped to fit within the cannula lumen. 
     
     
       11. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the cannula includes one or more depth marks. 
     
     
       12. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more depth marks are etched or molded into the cannula. 
     
     
       13. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the cannula is electrically insulated. 
     
     
       14. A stimulation needle apparatus, comprising:
 a stylet assembly that includes:
 a stylet that extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the stylet has a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 
 a stylet hub located at the first end; and 
 a conductive loop that is coupled to the stylet hub in a manner such that an entirety of the conductive loop extends proximally beyond a planar surface of the stylet hub, thereby defining a two-dimensional enclosure, and wherein the conductive loop is configured to engage with a stimulator device, such that an electrical pulse generated by the stimulator device can propagate to the stylet through the conductive loop, wherein the conductive loop and the stylet are integrally formed from a same piece of material, and wherein the conductive loop is configured to be hooked onto an alligator clip, a pin and socket connector, or a threaded connector of the stimulator device. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a cannula assembly that is engageable with the stylet assembly via an engagement mechanism selected from the group consisting of: a threaded engagement, a tab-in-slot connection, a bayonet connection, and a compression coupling. 
     
     
       16. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the stylet assembly is configured to:
 engage with the cannula assembly via a first rotational motion; and 
 disengage with the cannula assembly via a second rotational motion opposite the first rotational motion; 
 wherein the first rotational motion and the second rotational motion are relative to the longitudinal axis and are applied at least in part via the stylet hub. 
 
     
     
       17. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the stylet assembly and the cannula assembly are engaged using a press fit configuration or a snap-together configuration. 
     
     
       18. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the cannula assembly includes:
 a cannula that defines a cannula lumen extending along the longitudinal axis from a proximal cannula end to a distal cannula end; and 
 a cannula hub disposed at the proximal cannula end, wherein the cannula lumen is accessible through the cannula hub; 
 wherein: 
 the stylet is sized and shaped to fit within the cannula lumen; 
 the cannula includes one or more depth marks etched or molded into the cannula; and 
 the cannula is electrically insulated and includes one or more depth marks. 
 
     
     
       19. A stimulation needle apparatus, comprising:
 a stylet assembly that includes:
 a stylet that extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the stylet has a proximal stylet end and a distal stylet end; 
 a stylet hub located at the proximal stylet end; and 
 a conductive mechanism whose entirety thereof extends proximally beyond a planar surface of the stylet hub, wherein the conductive mechanism is a single piece of structure, such that the single piece of structure and the planar surface of the stylet hub collectively define a two-dimensional enclosure, wherein the conductive mechanism is configured to be attachable to a clip or a connector, and wherein the conductive mechanism is electrically coupled to the stylet and configured to engage with a pulse generator, such that an electrical pulse generated by the pulse generator can propagate to the stylet through the conductive mechanism. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The stimulation needle apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the conductive mechanism consists of a U-shaped conductive loop.